Hiring climate said to be 'modest' in coming quarter

Canadian employers expect to hire cautiously in the next three months, with job seekers more likely to have success in Western Canada than in Ontario and Quebec, according to a new survey of hiring intentions.

The latest quarterly employment outlook survey from Manpower finds that employers are forecasting only a "modest" hiring climate in the April-to-June period, with new business growth at its weakest level in five months.

Manpower's survey of more than 1,900 employers across Canada found that 16 per cent were planning to increase staffing levels, while four per cent were planning to cut them back.  

The healthiest hiring climate is in the Western provinces, with the rosiest opportunities in the construction, transportation and public utilities sectors.

"However, job growth is expected to be slower in Ontario and Quebec, with limited advances in full-time work expected for the coming quarter," said Manpower Canada vice president Byrne Luft in a statement.

Manpower said hiring intentions nationally fell two percentage points from the previous quarter to nine per cent. That represents a three percentage point drop from the outlook's forecast of a year ago. 

The weakest prospects are among manufacturers of non-durable goods.

Employment figures released last week by Statistics Canada showed a net loss of 7,000 jobs in February, with Quebec shedding 25,500 jobs.

Only 95,000 net new jobs have been created in Canada in the last year — a growth rate that is considered weak by historical standards. Job growth in the last six months has been especially weak. 

View the original article here

Read More

Loonie continues to fall on interest rate expectations

The Canadian dollar has fallen to a seven-week low against the U.S. dollar after the Bank of Canada indicated it will not move to hike interest rates in the next two years.

The Canadian dollar has fallen for the third straight day against the U.S. dollar, after the Bank of Canada moved Wednesday to lower expectations of an interest rate hike.

The loonie fell one-quarter of a cent to 95.70 cents US in early afternoon trading, a seven-week low, and is down a cent and a half so far this week.

On Wednesday, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz indicated the bank is not expecting to raise rates any time soon, and that a cut to interest rates may be just as likely if economic conditions do not improve.

The bank also lowered its outlook for Canadian growth for the next three years, as Canadian exports have yet to pick up.

Andrew Pyle, senior wealth adviser and portfolio manager at Scotia McLeod, said he believes the loonie could hit 90 cents US by the end of the year.

Pyle noted Poloz's background as the head of Export Development Canada as another sign the bank wants to do what it can to lower the dollar and boost exports.

"I would bet right now that the Bank of Canada would like a little bit of juice from the currency, whether it's a two- to five-cent decline back towards 90 cents to get the export sector going and to get the economy going," Pyle said in an interview on CBC's Lang & O'Leary Exchange.

Other economists also see the dollar falling, but not as quickly. In a note, Capital Economics says it sees the Canadian dollar falling to 92 cents by the end of June next year.

View the original article here

Read More